Baibars II

Not to be confused with his more famous namesake, Baibars al-Bunduqdari

Khanqah Baybars al-Jashankir, Cairo

Baibars al-Jashankir (Arabic: بيبرس الجاشنكير‎; died 1310) or Baibars II, royal name al-Malik al-Muzaffar Rukn al-Din Baibars al-Jashankir al-Mansuri(الملك المظفر ركن الدين بيبرس الجاشنكير المنصورى), also known as Abu al-Fath (أبوالفتح), was the 12th Mamluk Sultan of Mamluk Egypt in 1309–1310.

Background

He was a Circassian Mamluk of Sultan Qalawun and served at the court of Qlawun's Sons Al-Ashraf Khalil and Al-Nasir Muhammad. He became an Emir (a prince) then a Jashnakir.[1] During the second reign of Sultan Al-Nasir Mohammed from 1299 to 1309 he was the Vice-Sultan of Egypt. In 1302 he took part in suppressing a rebellion in upper Egypt and in 1303 he was a commander in the Egyptian army that defeated the Mongols led by Qutlugh-Shah at the Battle of Shaqhab.

Etymology of the name

The monarch had a fascinating name: a combination of Turkic, Persian and Arabic terms--befitting his multifarious origin and role. His given name Baibars is a Turco-Mongolian name, rather common at his time standing for "Chosen by the chief/lord". The second portion--Jowshangir is Persian for "conqueror of the armoured [men]". The title of al-Malike al Muzaffar ......etc. are Arabic honorific titles (in this case, "the victorious king, the pillar of faith" given by the masters of letters at the court to a reigning monarch. The anceliary Arabic name of "Abu'l-Fat'h" (the conquering man) is the closest Arabic allusion to his Persian given name, Jawshangir.

Rise to power and fall

With Emir Sayf al-Din Salar he dominated the young Sultan al-Nassir Muhammad who, feeling distressed, moved to Al Karak and resigned in 1309. Baibars al-Jashnakir became a Sultan after the position was imposed on him by Emir Sayf al-Din Salar and the Burji Mamluks.

The brief period of his reign (ten months and 24 days) was marked by economical and political unrest in addition to threats from crusaders and Mongols. The poverty-stricken commons kept rampaging the streets of Cairo, calling him Rakin (useless) instead of Rukn (principal) demanding the return of Sultan al-Nasir Muhammad to Egypt. In 1310 Baibars al-Jashnakir stepped down and fled with his Mamluks from the angry mob. Sultan An-Nasir Muhammad returned to Egypt and Baibars al-Jashnakir was arrested and executed.

Notes

  1. ↑ Jashnakir جاشنكير was an important function at the Sultan's court. A Jashnakir tasted the food of the Sultan to assure it was poison free.

References

  • Al-Maqrizi, Al Selouk Leme'refatt Dewall al-Melouk, Dar al-kotob, 1997. In English: Bohn, Henry G., The Road to Knowledge of the Return of Kings, Chronicles of the Crusades, AMS Press, 1969.
  • Ibn Taghri, al-Nujum al-Zahirah Fi Milook Misr wa al-Qahirah, al-Hay'ah al-Misreyah 1968
  • Mahdi, Dr. Shafik, Mamalik Misr wa Alsham ( Mamluks of Egypt and the Levant), Aldar Alarabiya, Beirut 2008
  • Sadawi. H, Al-Mamalik, Maruf Ikhwan, Alexandria.
  • Eternalegypt.org
Baibars II
Cadet branch of the Mamluk Sultanate
Born: ? Died: 1310
Regnal titles
Preceded by
An-Nasir Muhammad		 Sultan of Egypt and Syria
April 1309 – 5 March 1310		 Succeeded by
An-Nasir Muhammad


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